Lionsgate’s upcoming Borderlands movie has received a brand-new image, showing off its star-studded main cast. The action comedy is based on Gearbox Software’s popular video game series of the same name.

The photo provided fans with a closer look at the film’s unlikely team of mismatched misfits who get tasked with searching for a missing girl. Leading the team is outlaw Lilith, portrayed by Oscar winner Cate Blanchett. Speaking with Empire, director Eli Roth compared Blanchett’s character in the live-action Borderlands movie to Kurt Russell’s iconic role in 1981’s Escape from New York. "She loves Escape From New York,” Roth shared. "It’s her favorite movie. But nobody would know that because why would you ask her about Escape From New York when you’re interviewing her about Lydia Tár?"

The filmmaker added, "You’ve seen [her] twirling the baton [in Tár], but you haven’t seen her twirling guns behind her back. She’s a master at it. A big part of the fun of the movie is watching it and thinking, 'I can’t believe they all did this crazy stuff.' Cate with a flame-thrower — a real flame-thrower — come on! That’s pretty badass."

The highly-anticipated Borderlands movie is directed by Roth from a screenplay he co-wrote with Joe Crombie. This marks Blanchett’s latest collaboration with Roth, after previously working together in 2018’s The House with a Clock in Its Walls. The said dark fantasy comedy also starred Jack Black, who will be voicing the character of robot Claptrap, who the Kung Fu Panda actor recently described as an “R-rated R2-D2.” In addition to Blanchett and Black, the ensemble cast also includes Kevin Hart as Roland, Jamie Lee Curtis as Dr. Patricia Tannis, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, Florian Munteanu as Krieg, Edgar Ramirez as Atlas, Gina Gershon as Mad Moxxi and more.

Borderlands Movie Will Be Enjoyable for Fans & Non-Gamers

Despite including lots of Easter eggs from the video game series, Roth previously confirmed that the upcoming Borderlands movie was made to be enjoyed by everyone, including moviegoers who aren’t fans of the original video game. "We've been able to craft a story with all kinds of Easter eggs for hardcore gamers, but also a movie that's accessible for fans," he said. "When I pitched for it I said, 'Oh I'm making the gateway drug for Borderlands players.' Like if you've played the game, and you're a hardcore gamer, you're gonna love all the details that are in it and the fun of it, and if you have never played the game before watching the movie will make you want to play it."

Borderlands debuts in theaters on Aug. 9, 2024.

Source: Empire Magazine